Machine for use in the manufacture of bottle caps



Q IuIy'ZB, 1929.

, P. w. DALRYMPLE 1,721,659

IACHINE FOR USE IN THE IANUFACI URE 0F BOTTLE CAPS Filed April 30 1-927 4 Sheets-Sheet [.lLIIlIZll H III] II I] [III [I11 [I ll lLHITll 1m ii ATTORNEY y 3, 1929. P. w. DALRYMPLE 1,721,659

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOTTLE CAPS Filed April 30. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 23, 192 9. w. DALRYMPLE ,7

mamas FOR usa IN 'ra's nrwncmsbr BOTTLB' bus Filed April 30. 1927 4 Shoots-Sheet 3 A Shoots-Sheet 4 +76 Q/ANNAAANNNANAN W$ l/ENTOR ATTORNEY P. w. DALRYMPLE Filed April so 1927 July 23, 1929.

ncums FOR uss IN THE IANUFACTURB or Bonus ens Patented July 23, 1929 r 1,721,659 UNITED STATES PATENT ornca.

PHILIP w. DALRYHPLE, OI NEWTON, IASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, BY IESNB AS- SIGNMENTS, TO WHITE ROCK MINERAL SPRINGS COMPANY, OF WAUKESHA, WIS- CONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

IAOHINE FOR USE IN THE IANUIACTUBE OII' BOTTLE CAPS.

Application filed April 30, 1927. Serial No. 187,970.

This invention relates to machines for and rocesses of making bottle caps or crowns. he invention is es ecially concerned with the manufacture of t at type of crown or cap in which the'lining carries a disk-like seal or protecting member which closes the mouth of the bottle when the crown is applied and prevents the liquid contents of the bottle from coming in contact with the lining of the 1 crown. These disk-like seals are usually, al-

though of course not necessarily, made of tin foil, and crowns of this type, therefore, are commonly called tin center crowns.

A machine which has been used verysuccessfully in the manufacture of crowns of this type is shown in the Berg patent No. 1,477,418 granted December 11, 1923. This machine ineludes means for making a circular cut or score in the lining, mechanism for making a seal from metal foil and the like, this seal eing provided with a short marginal flan e, and means for subsequently forcing t e flange of the seal into the cut or score formed in the linin Due to the fact that the material from w ich the seals are made is relatively delicate, some difiiculty is experienced in inserting the flan e of the seal in the cut or score, and this difiiculty is greatly increased in operating on crowns in which acomposi- 3 tion cork lining is used.

- The present invention deals especially with 1 this problem. It aims to improve both the processes of making crowns of the general type above designated, and also the machines used in the manufacture of such crowns, with a view to reducing the expense of manufac- I ture of crowns of this type, reducing the percenta of imperfect crowns roduced, and devising a thoroughly practica way of applying the seals or tin centers to composition cork linings.

The nature of the inventionwill be readily .understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompan ing drawings, and the novel features will particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a part of the turret or carrier of the machine shown in Fig. 1 showing a suction attachment;

Fi s. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are vertical, cross-sectiona views, partly in elevation, showing different steps in the process provided by this invention;

Fi s. 7, 8 and 9 are plan views of a bottle cap llllllg showing successive steps of this process;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lining shown'in Fig. 9; 4

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the mechanism for forming the seal;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation, partly in crosssection, showing the means for pressing the seal upon the lining;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly-in crosssection, showing the. ejecting means for the linings;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a completed crown or cap;

'Fig. 15 is a vertical cross-sectionalview through the turret or carrier of the machine shown in Fig. 1 and the parts adjacent thereto' and i 16 is a cross-sectional view showing certain details of the mechanism for scoring the lining.

The machine shown in the drawings resembles closely that shown in. the Berg patent above designated, and reference should be made to that patent as to various constructional features. The drawings herewith have been confined chiefl to those features of the machine with whic this invention is more especially concerned, no attempt being made to illustrate the entire machine.

The present rocess differs from that performed by the rg machine in that the seal is first applied to the lining and subs uently the lining is assembled in the metal s ell of the crown. Referring to Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 it will be observed that a lining of the ordinary com osition cork type is shown at L,

Fig. 7. is lini is first scored or has a aircu ar cut C made t erein, as shown in Fi 8, and then the seal S Figs. 9 and 10, is app ied to this lining, the flange of the seal being inserted in the cut C.

Subsequently these linings, with the seal applied to them, may be transferred to an assembling machine of the ordinary commelw cial t pe, and each lining is secured in a sheet meta shell T, Fig. 14, tlms producing the completed crown asshown'in said figure.

The machine shown comprises a rotary table or carrier 2 provided with a series of pockets 3 each adapted to receive a lining.

(See Figs. 1, 4 and 15.) The linings L are stacked in a stationary magazine and are fed out of it by a rotary feed disk mounted on the upper end of a shaft 5, the disk being provided with holes 6 into which the linings drop one at a time from the magazine. This disk rotates immediately above a stationary plate 7, Figs. 3, 4 and 15, and the disk and carrier 2 are geared together and are rotated step by step through connections (not shown) whic are driven from the main shaft 8. The timing is such, as fully explained in the Berg pat ent, that at each pause in the rotation of the feed disk and carrier, one of the apertures 6 in the disk is in alinement with one of the pockets 3 in the carrier, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. At this instant a plunger 10, Fig. 4, descends and forces the lining L into the pocket 3, and this operation is repeated with each cycle of the machine.

The plunger 10 is mounted on an arm 11 which is secured to a head 12 that is reciprocated by an eccentric strap 13, Fig. 15, 0 erated by an eccentric 14 on the main sha t 8.

After leaving the loading station the linings are transferred into the pockets of the carrier 2 and are next brought under a rotary cutter which makes the circular score or cut 0, Fig. 8. This cutting mechanism, as

' well a all of the mechanism so far described except the magazine, is constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as disclosed in the Berg patent, with the further exception of certain details of the cutting mechanism best shown in Fig. '5. It will be noted that each pocket 3-consists of a cylindrical hole formed in the table 2. and that the bottom of the pocket is formed by the upper surface of a plug 15, Fig. 5. This plug or block has a flat central portion to support the central part of the lining L, but the margin of the upper face of this plug is bevelled or cut away so as to leave the margin of the lining unsupported. The scoring mechanism is mounted on an arm 16, Fig. 16, which reciprocates'with the head 12, and it comprises a rotary cutter 17, Figs. 5 and 16, fast on the lower end of a shaft 18, this shaft being revolved by connection with the sprocket wheel 20, Fig. 1, as described more fully in the Berg patent. Encircling the cutter 17 is a tubular non-rotary plunger or sleeve 21 which is pressed downwardly by springs 22, Fig. 16. The lower face of this sleeve is of angular formation, as shown in Fig. 5, and when the cutting mechanism is moved downwardly to score the cork lining L, the lower edge of the plunger 21 engages the lining far enoungh in advance of the edge of the cutter 17 to bend the lining into a convex form. This tensions the uppersurface of the lining so that when the edge of the cutter comes in contact with it, the tensioned surface cuts very easily and a clean cut of substantially uniform depth thus is assured. The lining is held stationary during this operation. In order to prevent the lining from being lifted out of the pocket by the cutter as it rises, a stationary stripper plate 22 is provided, this plate having an aperture of slightly smaller diamter than the pocket 3 and being in approximately axial alinement with the pocket.

The carrier 2 next transfers the scored lining to another stationwhere the seal, in this case in the form of a so-called tin center, is applied. The mechanism for making this seal from a strip of metal foil is fully shown and described in the Berg atent above designated. A part of this mec anism is shown in Figs. 1 and 11. It comprises a rotating table 23 geared to the carrier 2 and a feed mechanism which advances the strip of foil through the slot S, Fig. 11, where a circular disk is cut from it by the upward movement of the sleeve 24 and plungers 25 and 26. A further upward movement of the parts 25 and 26 carries this disk into a sleeve 27 which, with the plunger 28, acts as a holder for the seal. As the disk is moved upwardly through the aperture in the part 30, a marginal flange is formed on it- This operation takes place at the station F, Fig. 1, and the seal is retained in the holder 27 while it is transferred by the table 23 to the applying station G, Fig. 1, all

of this mechanism, including that required to produce the seal applying movement, being fully described in the Berg patent.

Referring to Fig. 6 which illustrates the seal applying operation, it will be observed that the lower end of the sleeve 27 is made substantially like the correspondin part of the plunger 21 above referred to. Klso, that this sleeve is held downwardly by spring pressure in a position below the plunger 28. Conse uently, when the arm 32, Figs. 1 and 15, which is rigid with the head 12, is moved downwardly by the head, the lower edge of the plunger or sleeve 27 strikes the margin of the scored lining L, Fig. 6, and bends this lining into a convex shape which results in opening the score or cut previously made in t e linmg. The further downward movement of the arm 32 presses the plunger 28 down and causes it to force the flange of the seal S, Fig. 6, into the out which is now held open. Thereafter, as the plunger 28 and sleeve 27 rise, the lining is released and it closes the out due to its own resiliency. This action results in clamping the flange of the The carrier 2 next transfers the lining with the seal anchored thereon to the station H, Figs. 1 and 12, where the plunger 33 carried by the arm 34 presses the seal and lining together and serves further to seat the seal in the lining.

Subsequent movements of the carrier 2 transfer the linin to the ejecting station where the plug or block 15, Fig. 13, is lifted far enough to raise the lining above the surface of the carrier 2. In this position the lining is struck by an ejecting finger 35 having a tail piece 36 which is operated by a plunger 37 mounted on the head 12, the ejector 35 operating to kick the linings into a chute 38.

The linings with the seals or tin centers fixed to them may now be transferred to an assembling machine of any suitable type which will place the linings in the metal shells of the crowns and completethe manufacture of the crownsor caps.

In the normal 0 eration of a machine of this type, particu arly when composition cork linings are used, the carrier 2 becomes partly covered with small pieces of cork which interfere with the proper operation of the machine. In order to remove such material I have placed a hood 40, Fig. 1, immediately over the carrier 2 with its mouth close to the upper surface of said carrier, and this hood is connected through a flexible pipe 41 with the intake end of a suction fan or blower 42. Preferably this hood is located at a point between the ejecting and loading stations so that the pockets and surface of the carrier are cleared of particles of cork before the pockets reachthe loading station.

.It may happen, also, that a broken linin .will be transferred to the carrier 2, and

. prefer, therefore, to locate another hood 43,

- wardly projecting F i s. 1 and 2, immediately over the carrier an in such a position that the pockets will pass under it as they travel from the loadmg station D to the scoring station E. This hood is also connected by a flexible pipe 44 to the intake end of the suction blower 42. In addition, the hood is provided with inparts 45 which slightly overlie the opposite ed es of the pocket 3. The suction tends to lift the disk L outof the pocket, but if the disk is of proper sha e and size, the projections 45 will effectual y prevent such action. On the other hand, if the disk should be broken or much under size, it would be pulled out of the pocket by the suction and discharged from the machine.

This suction apparatus thus contributes to reliability of operation and avoids interruptions which otherwise might often occur.

The invention effects economies in the manufacture of crowns or caps of the sopractical method of applying seals to a less expensive grade of lining material than has been used successfully heretofore in crowns of this construction. According to prior methods the seals were applied to a crown on which all the other manufacturing operations had been completed so that if the lining was damaged in the application of the seal, the entire crown usually became a total loss. According to the present method, however, the seals are first applied to the linings, and if an imperfect product is produced in this step of the process, the lining and seal only are lost.

It should be noted that in assembling these linings with the shells in an assembling machine of the ordinary commercial type it is necessary to use a magazine in which the linings can be stacked right side up.

While I have herein shown and described the embodiment of m invention which I prefer at present, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms, and that the process may be practiced by other apparatus without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support for a bottle cap lining sha ed to engage one face of the lining at a s ort distance from the edge thereof but being constructed to leave the margin of the lining unsupported, a plunger for engaging the marginal portion of the opposite ace of said lining and bending the lining over the edge of said su port, and means for scoring said opposite ace of the lining along said edge of the support.

I 2. n a machine of the character described, the combination of a support for a bottle cap lining, a plunger for engaging the margin of sald lining opposite to said support, said support and plunger cooperating to bend the lining into an approximately convex form whereby a zone on the convex surface is tensioned, and means for scoring said tensioned zone to form a self-opening slit therein.

3. In a machine of'the character described, the combination of a support for a bottle cap lining and a plunger for engaging the margin of said lining opposite to said support, said support and plunger cooperating to bend the linin into an approximately convex form and t ereby tension the convex surface of the lining, and means for scoring the latter surface of the lining where it is held so convexed and at the zone of tension.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support for a bottle cap lining, a plunger for engaging the margin of said linin opposite to said support, said support an plunger cooperating to bend the lining into an approximately conthe combination of a carrier constructed to vex form and thereby tension the convex surface of the lining, and a rotary cutter cooperating with said plunger to make a circular cut in the tensioned surface of the a seal having a circular flange to force saidflange into said out while said out is held open.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a support for a bottle cap lining, a plunger for engaging the margin of said lining opposite to said support, said support and plunger cooperating to bend the lining intoan approximately convex form and thereby tension the convex surface of the lining, and a rotary cutter mounted inside said plunger and in telescoping relation thereto for scoring the latter surface-of the lini while it is held so convexed.

7. a machine of the character described,

another, means operable at one of said stations to bend each linin to tension one surface thereof and to ma e a circular cut in face thereof to open" said cut, said means comprising a support for the linin having a raised central portion and a bevel ed margin and a plun er for engaging the margin of the opposite ace of said lining and forcing it toward said bevelled surface, seal applying means operable to insert the flange of a seal into said open cut, and means for delivering seals-one at a time to said applying means.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a carrier constructed to support a series of bottle cap linings, said carrier bein movable to transfer the linings successive yfrom one station to another, mechanism for operating on the linings at said stations, and suction means for removing chips and thelike from the carrier and acting at a point where the carrier has been relieved of'the cap linings.

11. In a machine ofthe character del;

scribed, the combination of a carrier having a series of pockets, each constructed to receive a bottle cap lining, said carrier being movable to transfer each lining from one station to another, means for operating on the linings held in said pockets, suction means operable to remove lining pieces from said pockets, and means for holding perfect linings in the pockets against the action of said suction means but inoperative to hold pieces of the linings.

PHILIP w xL-RYMPLE. 

